Toronto Raptors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Prediction, NBA Odds
While most of the sporting attention will be on Game 6 of the World Series on Friday night, the slumping Toronto Raptors are also in action as they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are -7.5 on the NBA odds with a total of 235.5 — and this is an NBA Cup game.
Raptors vs. Cavaliers NBA Betting Odds
Monday was the Sports Equinox, a rare day where there is at least one game from MLB, the NFL, NBA and NHL – and we hit a parlay at +122 with a pick from each if you tailed. We mention because this weekend could be nearly as good in terms of betting options. There is of course Game 6 of the World Series between the Dodgers and Blue Jays on Friday night from Rogers Centre with the Jays having a chance to win their first title since 1993. If not, an epic Game 7 on Saturday night.
The CFL Eastern and Western Semi-Final games are Saturday from Montreal and B.C., respectively. There’s the typical NHL weekend busy slate – Leafs are in Philly on Saturday – and this Raptors matchup in Cleveland on Friday night. Probably won’t get the best-ever TV ratings back in Toronto opposite the baseball, but that’s what multiple screens and/or sports pubs are for.
This Halloween night matchup is the first of three this season between the Cavs and Raptors, and they conclude the season series by Nov. 24 when Cleveland makes its only visit of campaign to Scotiabank Arena. Cleveland had the East’s best record last season and swept all four vs. Toronto. All-Star Donovan Mitchell led the way for the Cavs in averaging a team-best 22.7 points in the series. Evan Mobley put up 18.0 points and 11.5 rebounds per. R.J. Barrett led Toronto in averaging 21.0 PPG.
Cleveland leads the all-time series 60-51 and is 34-21 at home, taking the past four there. The over is 4-2 in the past six meetings overall. Note that this is the first NBA Cup game for both clubs as they are in East Group A with Atlanta, Indiana and Washington.
Toronto Raptors
I personally expect the Dinos to take a big step forward this season now that Brandon Ingram is actually playing for them, but so far not so good as the team enters on a four-game skid following an opening night upset win in Atlanta.
The defence has gone completely missing in this skid in allowing 130.5 points per game after Houston’s 139-121 victory at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday. Scottie Barnes (31) and Ingram (29) combined for 60 points in a losing effort.
Centre Jakob Poeltl was out with back troubles and rookie first-round pick Collin Murray-Boyles started in his place and had 13 points but just one rebound in 25 minutes; CMB would have likely played more but had some early foul trouble. Poeltl is out again Friday.
Without him, the Raptors are super small and they were outrebounded by Houston 53-22, including a whopping 17-4 edge in offensive boards. Because the Rockets kept getting all those boards, they also held a 27-7 edge in fastbreak points.
“There’s the game right there,” said Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic. “They just manhandled us inside the paint, and we did not have an answer for the rebounding.”
Being small is not ideal against Cleveland, which starts a pair of 7-footers (when healthy). Toronto is strangely 0-9 ATS in its past nine vs. Central Division teams.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland is probably the best team in the Eastern Conference this season but comes off a 125-105 loss in Boston on Wednesday to see a three-game winning streak snapped. The Cavs were outscored 35-18 in the second quarter and really that was that. Boston controlled the boards, 52-42, and the Celtics’ second unit outscored Cleveland’s, 45-18.
Evan Mobley notched his second straight double-double for Cleveland with a team-high-tying 19 points and a team-best 11 rebounds. The team is not healthy yet with All-Star point guard Darius Garland and shooting guard Max Strus both yet to play this season.
Both remain out Friday as does a third guard, Sam Merrill, after missing Wednesday. He has been dynamite from deep so far, hitting 18-for-35 (.514), and is averaging a career-high (by far) 17.3 points per game.
Arguably the team’s two best players are questionable Friday in All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell and big Jarrett Allen. Needless to say, the spread and total would both change if they sit. I will be picking as if both play. The Cavs don’t have any players from Canada. They are 0-5 ATS in their past five at home.
TOR
CLE